Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 1 December to Question HL11962, which dealt with this question at length and is reproduced below for ease of reference:

We continue to support the aspirations of the people of Myanmar for a peaceful, democratic future. Any meaningful election needs to be accompanied by an end to violence, a resumption of dialogue among all parties concerned, and must also address the urgent need to allow access for humanitarian assistance, to end human rights violations, and reverse the collapse of public services. We will continue to engage international partners, including ASEAN and at the UN Security Council, on the challenges facing people in Myanmar. On 19 November at the UN Third Committee meeting on Myanmar, the UK delivered a statement, reiterating concern for human rights violations and election plans: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/the-uk-is-concerned-by-the-ongoing-violence-in-myanmar-including-escalating-human-rights-violations-and-increasing-reports-of-sexual-andgender-based

Since 2021, the UK Government has enacted 19 sanctions packages against the Myanmar regime, including 10 individual sanctions targeting the import of aviation fuel into Myanmar. In 2022 the UK updated our Overseas Business Risk Guidance to make it clear that UK businesses should conduct thorough supply chain diligence to ensure that commodities such as aviation fuel do not reach the military.

We have also sanctioned 25 individuals and 39 entities targeting the regime's access to finance, arms and equipment. We keep all evidence and potential designations under close review. It would not be appropriate to speculate about potential future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact.

Table 5.4 of HM Treasury's Spending Review 2025 document sets out the Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit budgets for each department up to 2029/30. Departmental level allocations for the Spending Review period will be set out in the coming months.

We have expressed our concern over reports of the use of Chemical Weapons in Sudan, most recently at the Conference of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention held in The Hague from 24-28 November.  We note that the Sudanese authorities in Port Sudan have established a national investigative committee to investigate reported use of chemical weapons. We have urged them to investigate fully and promptly.

I met Premier Misick of the Turks and Caicos Islands at the recent Joint Ministerial Council (JMC). Total trade between the UK and the Overseas Territories is worth around £17 billion annually, supported by tariff-free access to the UK for Overseas Territory exporters. The JMC included sessions with British Expertise International, UK Export Finance and a business engagement and networking event with UK companies. Supporting economic growth and diversification is a key UK Government priority.

Business licensing is a devolved matter for the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

I met Premier Misick of the Turks and Caicos Islands at the recent Joint Ministerial Council (JMC). Total trade between the UK and the Overseas Territories is worth around £17 billion annually, supported by tariff-free access to the UK for Overseas Territory exporters. The JMC included sessions with British Expertise International, UK Export Finance and a business engagement and networking event with UK companies. Supporting economic growth and diversification is a key UK Government priority.

Business licensing is a devolved matter for the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

I met Premier Misick of the Turks and Caicos Islands at the recent Joint Ministerial Council (JMC). Total trade between the UK and the Overseas Territories is worth around £17 billion annually, supported by tariff-free access to the UK for Overseas Territory exporters. The JMC included sessions with British Expertise International, UK Export Finance and a business engagement and networking event with UK companies. Supporting economic growth and diversification is a key UK Government priority.

Business licensing is a devolved matter for the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

I met Premier Misick of the Turks and Caicos Islands at the recent Joint Ministerial Council (JMC). Total trade between the UK and the Overseas Territories is worth around £17 billion annually, supported by tariff-free access to the UK for Overseas Territory exporters. The JMC included sessions with British Expertise International, UK Export Finance and a business engagement and networking event with UK companies. Supporting economic growth and diversification is a key UK Government priority.

Business licensing is a devolved matter for the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

I met Premier Misick of the Turks and Caicos Islands at the recent Joint Ministerial Council (JMC). Total trade between the UK and the Overseas Territories is worth around £17 billion annually, supported by tariff-free access to the UK for Overseas Territory exporters. The JMC included sessions with British Expertise International, UK Export Finance and a business engagement and networking event with UK companies. Supporting economic growth and diversification is a key UK Government priority.

Business licensing is a devolved matter for the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) recognises that sport can be an enabler of sustainable development, including through the promotion of tolerance and respect and through the positive contribution it makes to empowerment of women and girls, health, education and social inclusion. The UK has been one of the key supporters of the ABAS agenda in discussions with the SIDS group and at the United Nations.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer she was provided on 5 November in response to Question 85644.

The UK is committed to promoting and protecting human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and we monitor the infringement of human rights across the world, including instances of transnational repression (TNR). Working in coordination with partners, we employ a range of measures to counter the threats presented by TNR, including operational, policy, and legal tools, and we take very seriously the need to protect the rights, freedoms, and safety of individuals in the UK from TNR.

I refer the Hon Member to the response given on 8 December 2025 to question 96635. We do not comment on potential future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 28 October to Question 906060.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 28 October to Question 906060.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 28 October to Question 906060.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 28 October to Question 906060.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 28 October to Question 906060.

The UK is deeply concerned about the serious security and humanitarian crisis in Haiti, which is driving significant migration pressures on Hispaniola and neighbouring islands. We are working with international partners to address this, including through the creation of the Gang Suppression Force and support for UN sanctions on those responsible for instability in Haiti. In October, I spoke with the Haitian Foreign Minister, Jean-Baptiste, and the Dominican Vice Minister for Multilateral Affairs, Rubén Silié Valdez, about the significant challenges in Haiti. The Minister for International Development also met the Haitian Foreign Minister on 17 November. During my visit to Jamaica last week, migration from Haiti to nearby islands was raised in discussions with partners.

The purpose of the Advisory Opinion is to inform the work of the UN General Assembly, and as such there is no requirement for the UK to draft a response. Since this Government came to office, we have been very clear that Israel has an obligation under International Humanitarian Law to ensure the provision of aid in Gaza and that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has a critical role in delivering the humanitarian response. This was reflected in our oral statement to the Court on 1 May. The Court's Advisory Opinion confirms that view. As the Foreign Secretary said on 2 December, we continue to urge the opening of all crossings and unrestricted access for humanitarian aid.

Iran continues to destabilise the region through political, financial and military support for its proxies and partners - in direct contravention of multiple UN Security Council Resolutions. We will continue to work alongside international partners to hold Iran to account for this escalatory behaviour and call on Iran to cease this activity. The UK has to date sanctioned over 450 Iran-linked individuals and entities. We do not comment on prospective sanctions as to do so would risk reducing their impact.

The UK has a longstanding and important relationship with Israel, built on cooperation in areas including security, trade, science, and technology. We remain firmly committed to Israel's security and continue to work together on shared regional challenges.

The UK's immediate priority, working alongside our international partners, is to ensure continued progress on the 20-point peace plan endorsed by the UN Security Council on 17 November, including maintaining the current ceasefire, increasing the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and advancing the political process necessary for a just and lasting peace.

We discuss those matters regularly, and we remain committed to the pursuit of a two-state solution, with a secure Israel living side by side in peace and security alongside a viable, sovereign Palestinian state.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made by the Foreign Secretary to the House on 18 November 2025 regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In October, the Foreign Secretary spoke with UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar about the importance of opening more crossings to enable the flow of humanitarian supplies into Gaza at the pace and volume required to meet the scale of the crisis.

We are aware of Bita Shafiei's case and continue to raise the rights of women and girls and human rights defenders with the Iranian Government in multilateral fora. The UK co-sponsored an Iran Human Rights Resolution, adopted by the UN Third Committee on 19 November, which condemned the targeted repression of women and girls and called on Iran to release women human rights defenders imprisoned for exercising their rights. We delivered a statement at the Committee, which highlighted Iran's bolstering of surveillance capabilities to monitor and target women and girls, and we will continue to work with international partners to hold Iran to account.

The Government continues to monitor individual cases of concern in Saudi Arabia, and we regularly raise human rights with the Saudi authorities, including at ministerial level.

The UK is a State Party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits their production, stockpiling, transfer, and use.

We are concerned by reports of the use of cluster munitions by the Israeli Defence Forces.

We continue to urge all actors to refrain from using such munitions and to adhere to international humanitarian law.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 20 November to Question 91653.

As explained in the response to Question 91401 on 25 November, it has not been the policy under any government to publish the employment forms relating to individual members of staff.

I refer the Noble Lord to the statement the Prime Minister made in the House of Commons on 25 November 2025 [Columns 219] and to the answers provided by The Lord Privy Seal to the House of Lords on Ukraine on 26 November [Columns 1390 & 1392].

I refer the Noble Lord to the answers I provided to the House on Ukraine: Forcible Removal of Children on 24 November. We remain, as ever, committed to supporting Ukrainian efforts to facilitate the return and reintegration of children deported by Russia.

The UK condemns the kidnappings of Catholic priests and others in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon, including 6 priests who have now been released. The UK Government monitors the human rights situation in Cameroon closely and discusses the issues in the Anglophone regions with a range of interlocutors, including at the highest levels of the Cameroonian Government. We continue to call for inclusive dialogue which addresses the root causes of the crisis and urge all parties to pursue a peaceful resolution. We also advocate for the protections of all vulnerable communities through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora.

The UK is an active and committed member of the UN Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, which leads the international response to grave violations against children in conflict. The UK is providing further funding of £450,000 to United Nations International Child's Fund's (UNICEF) Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism this year, ensuring grave violations against children are recorded and perpetrators are held to account. Since April 2024, the UK has supported the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) with £1.4 million in funding to provide Emergency Ordnance Risk Education Services (EORE) in Sudan, including to Sudanese children. Wherever possible, the UK provides Victim Assistance referrals for medical care and rehabilitation as part of its demining support.

The UK is an active and committed member of the UN Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, which leads the international response to grave violations against children in conflict. The UK is providing further funding of £450,000 to United Nations International Child's Fund's (UNICEF) Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism this year, ensuring grave violations against children are recorded and perpetrators are held to account. Since April 2024, the UK has supported the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) with £1.4 million in funding to provide Emergency Ordnance Risk Education Services (EORE) in Sudan, including to Sudanese children. Wherever possible, the UK provides Victim Assistance referrals for medical care and rehabilitation as part of its demining support.

The UK is an active and committed member of the UN Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, which leads the international response to grave violations against children in conflict. The UK is providing further funding of £450,000 to United Nations International Child's Fund's (UNICEF) Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism this year, ensuring grave violations against children are recorded and perpetrators are held to account. Since April 2024, the UK has supported the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) with £1.4 million in funding to provide Emergency Ordnance Risk Education Services (EORE) in Sudan, including to Sudanese children. Wherever possible, the UK provides Victim Assistance referrals for medical care and rehabilitation as part of its demining support.

Yes, the Chemical Weapons (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, was extended in 2020 via the Chemical Weapons (Sanctions) (Overseas Territories) Order 2020, and as such asset freezes can be applied in these jurisdictions as a result of these regulations.

The UK's current view is that existing International Humanitarian Law, including the Geneva Conventions, provides a robust and adaptable framework for the conduct of hostilities, including the use of AI-enabled capability. The UK believes that discussions should focus on norms of use and measures aimed at promoting the lawful design and responsible use of AI in the military domain. There are already a number of international discussions and processes examining these issues in which the UK is actively involved, and we keep these matters under regular review.

Financial Services regulation is a devolved matter for the Cayman Islands Government. The UK Government works closely with the Cayman Islands authorities to uphold the rule of law and ensure robust legal frameworks. Cayman Islands courts operate independently under a well-established legal system based on English common law, providing avenues for parties to challenge harmful actions. I discussed with Premier Ebanks at the recent Joint Ministerial Council how to work together to promote further trade and investment ties, and welcomed the important steps taken by the Cayman Islands Government to promote greater corporate transparency.

The UK Government respects the impartiality of the Cayman Islands Courts. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is the highest court of appeal for the Overseas Territories, and its decisions are binding.

Financial Services regulation is a devolved matter for the Cayman Islands Government. The UK Government works closely with the Cayman Islands authorities to uphold the rule of law and ensure robust legal frameworks. Cayman Islands courts operate independently under a well-established legal system based on English common law, providing avenues for parties to challenge harmful actions. I discussed with Premier Ebanks at the recent Joint Ministerial Council how to work together to promote further trade and investment ties, and welcomed the important steps taken by the Cayman Islands Government to promote greater corporate transparency.

The UK Government respects the impartiality of the Cayman Islands Courts. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is the highest court of appeal for the Overseas Territories, and its decisions are binding.

Financial Services regulation is a devolved matter for the Cayman Islands Government. The UK Government works closely with the Cayman Islands authorities to uphold the rule of law and ensure robust legal frameworks. Cayman Islands courts operate independently under a well-established legal system based on English common law, providing avenues for parties to challenge harmful actions. I discussed with Premier Ebanks at the recent Joint Ministerial Council how to work together to promote further trade and investment ties, and welcomed the important steps taken by the Cayman Islands Government to promote greater corporate transparency.

The UK Government respects the impartiality of the Cayman Islands Courts. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is the highest court of appeal for the Overseas Territories, and its decisions are binding.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 3 November to question 85121.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 3 November to question 85121.

I refer the Hon Member to the response given to Question 91956 on 26 November.

Article 1 (2) of the United Nations Charter establishes that one of the organisation's founding purposes is to develop friendly international relations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples. We continue to work with our UN colleagues and international partners on the basis of that charter.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the response provided on 13 October to Question 77020.

As I stated in the latest session of FCDO Oral Questions on 2 December, the Prime Minister raised this case with President Sisi on 18 November, and the Foreign Secretary has pressed for Mr el-Fattah's return on multiple occasions with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, most recently on 25 November. Mr el-Fattah must be allowed to return to the UK and be reunited with his family.